rachelle_m.
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Posts posted by rachelle_m.
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<p>I went to Aoi Matsuri many years ago and did not have paid seating. I went early, to the Imperial Palace I believe, and was able to get a "front row" spot right behind the rope that keeps the crowds back. This allowed me to photograph the procession without anyone in front of me (important, since I'm pretty short!). It did get very crowded though, so I was glad I went early. The procession is long, and is pretty easy to see along the city streets (no need to go early) but not as atmospheric.</p>
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<p>Wherever you get it processed make sure they turn off the infrared sensors in the machines or it will all be for nothing...<br>
<strong> </strong><br>
<strong>From the Kodak EIR PDF:</strong><br>
Note: Do not process infrared film in labs using equipment with infrared sensors. The infrared sources used by photofinishers, such as night vision goggles, infrared cameras (used mostly on rack-and-tank machines), or infrared replenishment sensors (used on some roller-transport, continuous and minilab machines), will fog EIR Film. The photofinisher must be willing to turn off their infrared cameras and not use infrared goggles while this film is out of its magazine. Labs using roller-transport processors should first verify the presence of infrared sensors, which detect the length and width of the film for replenishment calculations. Many of these processors have a manual replenishment mode, which will turn off the sensors. Film fogged by infrared radiation in the lab will have an overall crimson red appearance. (It completely fogs the infrared layer, leaving only an image from the red and green sensitive layers.) Labs receiving film for processing with the leader protruding from the magazine should rewind it into the magazine or keep it in a black plastic can until it can be opened in the dark. Some labs’ equipment will not operate if all infrared emitters are disengaged. </p>
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<p>Beautiful shots Ron. I tried to go to Skellig Michael both times I visited Ireland (2007, 2008) and both times I couldn't do it because the boats wouldn't run with the wind being so strong (which it wasn't on land, but apparently was much worse at sea). I even waited a couple of days for the winds to die down to increase my chances, but it was still a no-go. So it still remains on the bucket list, although I imagine a lot of people will be wanting to visit as a result of seeing them in <em>The Force Awakens</em>.</p>
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<p>The backing has changed, but I haven't noticed any differences in the tightness of the rolls. The only film that gives me problems like you are describing is Acros, and that's a fairly recent development.</p>
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<p>Hi Martin,</p>
<p>Lots of good advice from Kyle and Hector. I'm still living in Japan but I now live in Kyoto. As per Hector's suggestion for the old thread (totally forgot about it!) I thought I would try to update and add to the information.</p>
<p>For Kyoto, you might want to look at these sites: <a href="http://www.insidekyoto.com/">Inside Kyoto</a>, <a href="http://www.kyotoguide.com/">Kyoto Guide</a>, <a href="http://kyototraveler.org/">Kyoto Travel,</a> and <a href="http://www.deepkyoto.com/">Deep Kyoto</a>.</p>
<p>Kiyomizudera is currently being renovated so there will be limitations on the kinds of photos you can take there, although it's still worth a visit. The Arashiyama area in the northwest is also worth visiting, as are temples and shrines south of Kyoto station (this area, other than Fushimi Inari Shrine, tends to get overlooked by most tourists and guidebooks/sites). I live very near Daigo-ji temple, which is a World Heritage Site, and well worth exploring. Like Ginkakuji, it's possible to hike up the mountain behind it. I am planning a visit to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saih%C5%8D-ji_%28Kyoto%29">moss garden</a>, as I have been unable to get there yet. But it can be expensive - if you want to see other moss gardens in the city, <a href="http://www.kyotoguide.com/ver2/thismonth/Hydrangea-and-moss.html">this guide </a>has some good suggestions. As you'll be there in June, which is the start of the rainy season, any moss garden would be a great to visit. </p>
<p>As for day trips from Kyoto (or in the Kansai area in general), Nara is a good bet, and Osaka is worth a day. If you want to go further (or perhaps on your way to Hiroshima) stopping off at Himeji to view the castle would be worthwhile. The castle has been under wraps for renovation for years and it just opened two weeks ago. It's stunning and definitely the most beautiful, and one of the most interesting, castles in Japan. Another day (or better yet overnight) trip from Kyoto would be to Koya-san, a beautiful temple complex. The cemetery there is one of the most atmospheric places I have ever been to.</p>
<p>There won't be any sumo tournaments on while you are here, but I would highly recommend a Japanese baseball game -- it's fun and different to watch and experience. You could see the Giants in Tokyo or the Hanshin Tigers in Osaka, or the Carp in Hiroshima. You can buy tickets <a href="http://www.japanballtickets.com/index.html">here</a>, and more information <a href="http://www.japanball.com/baseballjapan.htm">here</a>.</p>
<p>I don't have much to say for Tokyo, except to say that it will provide endless opportunities to get great street and architectural photos. Visiting Yodobashi Camera, the mecca of all photo stores, should also be on your list. If you want to do Fuji (Five Lakes area), 1-2 days would be the minimum. Try to get at least one sunrise, and it's worth renting a bicycle to explore the areas around the lakes.</p>
<p>A good day trip out of Tokyo (one of many) could also be to Kamakura - you can see the large <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3100.html">Amida Buddha</a>, and several temples, including <a href="http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/06/24/the-beautiful-flowers-of-hydrangea-temple-possibly-the-best-thing-about-japans-rainy-season/">Meigetsuin</a> and <a href="http://en.japantravel.com/photos/hasedera-hydrangea-garden-kamakura">Hasedera</a>, will be stunning with thousands of hydrangea in bloom. In fact you'll find hydrangea all over the country since their blooming coincides with the rainy season. Japan is a country very in tune with its seasonal variations, which includes flowers, blossoms, and turning leaves. Regardless of whether or not you like photographing those things yourself, I find it hard to photograph Japan and not include those kinds of seasonal elements to it.</p>
<p>Well, I think this is more than enough for now. Let me know if you have any other questions.</p>
<p> </p>
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<p>I travelled to Keukenhof a few years ago and was there in the third week of April - and I have to admit the gardens were at their just hitting their peak then. I felt very lucky to have been able to photograph them at that time. There are crowds, but as mentioned above, earlier is better than later. I was there right when the gardens opened and was able to take a lot of pictures without any people in them. However, by late morning the numbers had swelled and it was more difficult to get any nice shots, but that also coincided with the sun coming out and having a lot of harsh light to deal with.</p>
<p>I got there by bicycle - was able to ride through the tulip fields before and after going to the gardens, which was rewarding as well. That being said, I would not photograph the fields over the gardens as an either/or proposition -- if you have to choose one, I would go with the gardens. But of course it's possible to do them both.</p>
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<p>I've lived in Japan for over 10 years and have never had an incident, other than being asked for sex. In all cases, telling the guy to f--- off or even just saying no usually works. Most guys don't want to attract attention to themselves. That's not to say that bad stuff can't happen, but the odds of it happening to these two girls is extremely unlikely. Japan is extremely safe. Using common sense and trusting your instincts is usually the best way to deal with most situations.</p>
<p>As for travel, having some Japanese helps, but you absolutely don't need it. The girls may be "backpacking" but I imagine they'll hit mostly well-known tourist places in Japan, most of which will have English-language signage (and some English speakers). I've also found that (especially in off-the-beaten-track places) writing my request down in English seems to work better sometimes, as quite a number of people lack confidence in understanding spoken English. Either way, the girls will be fine here.</p>
<p>As for film, it's still available (compared to the western world) -- almost any photo store will still carry some. That being said, the best places are <a href="http://www.shootingfilm.net/2013/01/inside-yodobashi-cameras-film-coolr.html">Yodobashi Camera</a> (in any major city, but Tokyo is the mecca and has the best selection -- please look at the link) or BIC Camera (Toyko and Osaka are good, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka are not in my recent experiences). Colour neg, slide, black and white, everything from 135 to large format is available.</p>
<p>PS. I just went through the photos for the Yodobashi Camera link that I listed above -- the photos at the top of the page are more representative of what's there now, that is, a long single cooler with all brands of film in it. The photos at the bottom are older (5 or more years) when that store had up to three massive coolers -- one mostly for Fuji, one mostly for other players (Kodak, Ilford), and one for "other" films including disposables, instant film, etc. Or maybe the difference was colour film versus black and white. Either way, those coolers are gone now and it's just the one. Another clue is the presence of now-discontinued films in those bottom pictures.<br>
<br /> Yodobashi camera stores in smaller cities will have much less selection than the Tokyo store, but they still cover all the basics.</p>
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<p>A single roll (36 frames) is about 800 yen for the old style boxes, 980 yen for the new style boxes (standard Fuji price increase that went into effect recently).</p>
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<p>Well, I live in Japan and if I didn't know those photos were from Fukushima I'd say they are pretty representative of what Japanese towns and cities look like. Buildings, grass, shrubs, everything.<br>
That "photo" on the pole is a traffic mirror. It just shows a view that we don't quite see being at ground level.</p>
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<p>Marcello, I found your post a little hard to understand but from what I gather you need to have one pack for all your clothes, and a different one for your camera gear that you can use during the day. When I travel I put the bigger pack on my back and the smaller pack in front -- yes you look like a pack mule, but it works. That being said, virtually no Japanese carry backpacks when travelling -- it's all luggage -- so you will stand out travelling with packs. I've lived and travelled in Japan for over 8 years now, so I do speak from experience. Most (big) train stations are equipped with escalators and elevators, but they are sometimes inconveniently located or (in smaller places) non-existant, so you should be prepared to carry your luggage/pack in any situation.</p>
<p>Most of the newer hostels in Japan are equipped with large lockers (but bring your own lock). The biggest worry is theft from your fellow travellers, not Japanese people. That being said, I have never had a problem in Japan (or any other country for that matter). Most backpackers (flashpackers?) now travel with a lot of digital gear -- cameras, computers, tablets, etc. so you won't stand out.</p>
<p>As for gear, Japan is good for the latest and greatest cameras (and even the used but not abused), but it's not cheap. I live here and still order all my photo gear from the US since it's much cheaper and I don't get charged any customs/duty.</p>
<p>As for your itinerary -- how are you planning to travel, and how long will you stay in each place? I would budget at least half a day for travel if you are checking out of one place, getting to the station, travelling, and then having to find your new accomodation. As Ray has mentioned above, try to base yourself in fewer places and do day trips -- you'll save a lot of time and hassle by not always having to repack and re-set up in every city you visit. Is there a reason you want to visit Osaka/Kobe? As a resident here in Japan they're fun cities, but as a tourist I'm not sure what you would get out of them -- by that I mean I would spend more time in other places. Also, if you are going to Himeji to see the castle, be warned that it under a lot of <a href="http://www.himejijo-syuri.jp/en/repair/index.html">scaffolding for renovation </a>-- you can still visit, but photographically you may be disappointed.</p>
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<p>Angela, don't take this the wrong way, but could you have forgotten to take the lens cap off the camera? Because what you see through the viewfinder is not exactly what the lens sees, I throw away my lens caps almost immediately so I never have to face this issue.</p>
<p>If that wasn't the problem, then I'd offer this bit of advice. 100 speed film is good for sunny days, 400 for cloudy days (outside). Inside you probably need something higher than 400 speed film -- the Holga shutter is around f/8 or f/11 with a shutter speed of 1/100. You might also some cheaper non-lomo film if you can find it -- maybe the problem is with the film you bought?</p>
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<p>I agree with some of the others here -- bring your best body, wide angle lenses, and fast lenses for low light. The telephoto lens might be good for detailed shots, if only because some of the major temples (Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, etc) have extensive renovation work going on (i.e. lots of scaffoding and other unsightly distractions). I was there in March of this year (my third trip) hoping to get some iconic shots and it was very disappointing due to the scaffolding and what not. Once you're inside most temple grounds (anywhere) I would think the 24-70 (or wider) would be your best bet.</p>
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<p>Keith,<br>
You are aware that the catacombs are only open until five right? Would your plan be to go there on Friday, after you arrive?</p>
<p>Paris is the number one tourist site in the world -- unless you live there, I'd say it would be pretty hard to get off the beaten track anywhere in that city (unless you go out to the suburbs). I lived in France for two years and my advice for Paris is to pick a neighborhood and go walking. If you're not focused on getting somewhere, I think you'll be more aware of what's around you and get some good photos that way (at least, in my experience). As you don't seem interested in the sites or any of the beautiful architecture of the city, that's what I'd recommend.</p>
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<p>Hi Colin,</p>
<p>First, I'd like to say that TLRs are "real" cameras. And when I first went to shoot medium format, that's what I started with -- mostly Minolta Autocords and Yashicas (I have about 8 now). My preference is for the Autocord -- great construction, great lens, some of my best photos have been taken with that camera.</p>
<p>However, over time I came to the conclusion that I wanted a bigger system that would allow me to change lenses, backs, etc. and looked into other square systems (I love the square) -- a Hasselblad was too expensive, so was the Mamiya rangefinder, and the Mamiya TLRs with interchangeable lenses seemed too heavy (SLR-like, which loses the benefit of the lightness of a TLR) without the benefit of an interchangeable back. So that basically left the Bronica (SQA in my case) and I have to say I am very happy with it. That said, I mostly shoot with the 80mm on it, which is the same lens as the TLRs.</p>
<p>Just as an aside, the bigger MF cameras that shoot 6x7 or larger are big. And heavy. I know some people shoot them handheld. But if I had a kid I'd want something light and portable and easy to deal with on the fly. And if you want a camera for motorcycling (think about the vibrations) and canoeing (water) I'd go for something cheap and easily replaceable (in your case, stick with the Holga for those activities). Anyway, just my two cents.</p>
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<p>Ray, I've only been to Bangkok out of the places on your list (but I live and travel throughout Asia), and I'd say that by 6 a..m. the sky is getting light and most of the building lights are off by then. If you want classic shots of building lights then dusk is your best time -- the sky still has a bit of colour but provides reallly nice contrast to the lights.</p>
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<p>This has been discussed at APUG as well. Here's a link to get you started: <a href="http://www.apug.org/forums/forum40/58189-kodachrome-b-w-neg.html">click</a></p>
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<p>Tony,<br>
I'm jealous -- I visited Andalucia a few years ago and would love another trip back to Spain. The architecture down south is stunning and you'll definitely want your wide angles. I normally travel with a 28/50/105 set up, with two cameras as well (FE and F100) -- you're planned equipment looks similar and if you don't have any problems with space or weight then I say go with it.<br>
As for film, definitely bring more. There's nothing worse than running out of film on your travels and having no way of getting the film you want quickly. And don't worry about your 400 speed film. I've travelled with 1600 speed film throughout Asia and Europe (including my Spain trip) that went through multiple scans (up to 12) -- they all turned out fine. If you can get hand checks, great, but if not, don't worry, even for the films you want to push. That being said, keep whatever film you've shot, or are not using, at the hotel, to avoid surprise scans that you haven't anticipated (like at museums or other famous sites).</p>
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<p>Howard, is there a reason you need a tour? It's quite easy to catch the train from Florence to Levanto or La Spezia and only costs 16-23 euros one way. Once there, you'll be on a very established tourist trail -- do you really need a guide for that? The only reason I ask is that if you travel independently you'll be able to set your own hours, rather than be tied to those of a group -- much better for photography, in my opinion.</p>
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<p>I agree. I've been shopping for most of my film online for almost 5 years now (in three different countries) because it's cheaper, easier, and they almost always have the different kinds of film that I want. I suppose if one only shoots consumer-grade colour neg film then the local shops would be okay. It is disappointing to see it disappear though.</p>
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<p>Thanks Jeff, you just brought up what I was going to say!<br>
Are paper negatives/positives film?<br>
Are glass plates?<br>
Are tintypes?<br>
Although I would argue that most analog photographers are film photographers, I think the word analog grew out of a need to refer to all non-digital photographic processes without having to say "non-digital photography". There's a larger world out there other than just film.</p>
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<p>Check out Jason Brunner's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P9bNcBE_Hc&feature=related">video</a> on youtube -- you'll exactly how the film is attached (or not) to the paper backing. If you want to avoid the prologue, start at 2:00 so you can see where he starts loading the film.</p>
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<p>I'm with the others about exploring on foot -- there are lots of great little neighbourhoods in the (mostly) downtown area that are worth exploring. But there's a big difference between being local and having the chance to continually explore an area, and being a tourist (which you will be) with limited time and knowledge. I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to avoid tourist areas -- even though they may be famous for some "sights", the areas they are in are equally patronized by locals for every day activities like shopping, eating, transport, etc.</p>
<p>Also, I don't know if it would interest you or not, but you might enjoy photographing Black Creek Pioneer Village in the northern part of the city (at least a subway+bus ride if going by public transport). It will fully decked out for the holidays, and even if there isn't snow, it's still an atmospheric (although historic - 1860s) place to shoot. And although it's an outdoor museum there are plenty of chances to go indoors to all the buildings (most are heated) to warm up if need be. I know it's probably not what you're thinking about when you think of Toronto, but I always used to take visitors there when I lived in the city (the fact that I used to work there played a part as well!), and they always enjoyed it.</p>
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<p>Hey Ray,</p>
<p>Are these two rolls the only two you'll ever shoot? (probably not ;-) ) Shoot one or both rolls of the HP5+ and develop it in whatever standard developer you have access to and see if you like it or not. You can't know until you try it, and what may be grainy and gritty to me may not be to you. If it's not what you are looking for, then you can start experimenting with other films/developers. Using higher speed films or pushing film tends to help in the grain department, as does using certain developers (such as Rodinal). Don't forget too, that the degree of enlargement will have a significant impact on graininess/grittiness of the final print as well.</p>
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<p>The Fujifilm Japan site that lists their black and white products is <a href="http://fujifilm.jp/personal/jan/monochrome/film.html?pSch501010105">here</a>. Similarly, colour slide is <a href="http://fujifilm.jp/personal/jan/reversal.html?pSch501010110">here</a>. Anything with a little star beside it (*) has been discontinued. Running google translation over the page works well enough, but even if you don't, the film names and sizes are easy enough to figure out. I currently live in Japan and find that these lists are accurate, at least for the market here.</p>
How long do you spend at each location before moving on?
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